Model 3 Tire Pressure

[Sneakerhead]

My stock tires are all set at 50..18inch aeros.. it goes to 44 at night time.. pretty sure i got screwed? On the way back i averaged 310kwh/hr at 44psi all 4 at night

 

[0ptions]

Go figure ,View attachment 318353 View attachment 318354

The warning will remain even after the tire is warmed up some from driving which might explain the differential of warning pressures.

 

[Trevor B]

ok, really newb question here: having driven nothing but ancient cars, never used a TPMS system before. Do I need to do anything special to check the air with a standard air gauge? Do I need to take off a cap prior to bleeding/filling w/air? (sorry but don't want to screw up my beautiful M3.)

You can't be serious, man!

 

[Thunder7ga]

Warm, mine have been running at 48...I haven't bothered to change anything yet since delivery.

 

[theecw]

Are the Tesla tires filled with nitrogen?

 

[Trevor B]

Warm, mine have been running at 48...I haven't bothered to change anything yet since delivery.

Sticker on the door says 42

 

[TexasTeslaRacing]

Stock 18's should be set at 45psi COLD. 20" tires 42PSI COLD.

 

[Knightshade]

Are the Tesla tires filled with nitrogen?

At least 78% of the fill is nitrogen

 

[DR61]

it goes to 44 at night time.

Check 'cold' (before driving that day and in the shade). Your tires are set at 44 psi, NOT 50 psi.

 

[Ejl80]

Stock 18's should be set at 45psi COLD. 20" tires 42PSI COLD.

The newer cars say 42 psi on the sticker for 18s

 

[m3snowy]

In the Model 3 I've noticed that the tire pressure readings don't show up on the screen until the car gets moving for like 1 minute. Is that your experience as well? That makes it difficult to get and adjust cold tire pressure...

In my old ICE car, the tire pressure shows up after turning on Accessories (without starting/driving the car) in 1 minute, so I was able to use the car's TPMS pressure display to adjust the tire pressure more accurately than I could with my analogue tire pressure gauge.

 

[RayK]

I believe my tire pressures appear within one minute of driving. Yes it's a little bit of a hassle getting in and out of the car, driving a short distance in between, but you're not going to significantly alter the pressure in that amount of time. Unless you're laying down doughnuts.

 

[jsmay311]

Mine were at 40 PSI at delivery, but the door says 45 PSI so I raised it to 45 for the better efficiency.

When a mobile repair tech came out to fix something unrelated, he asked what my tire pressure was, and he was going to lower it to 42 PSI (or maybe he said 40... I can't remember) before I objected. He said most people "like it better" with lower pressure for a softer ride. But I value the reduced rolling resistance more.

 

[EVnut]

but what I don't understand is what the set point temperature should be for "cold" pressure. If I adjust my cold tire pressure once a month as suggested, should I do it in the morning when it is 50º or in the afternoon when it is 90º? That choice will result in a 4 psi difference. I.... in my scenario with a low of 50º and a high of 90º, it would make the most sense to adjust tire pressure to the lowest temperature of the day (50º). Does that seem correct?

Correct.

There is no one "cold" pressure for logical reasons. Let's pretend that you live in Alaska, and that I live in the Sacramento Valley of CA. On a given week in Alaska, the high might be 5 degrees F. Here it might be 105 degrees F. If we both set our tires to a "cold" pressure of some arbitrary temp, one of us might have a low-pressure problem, and one of us might have a high pressure problem. Heck where we live, we may not even ever experience some arbitrary temp to set to! So you set your tires to a cold pressure in a temp that is a reasonably low temp for your climate and current season. Adjust as necessary. The rest will take care of itself.

Bottom line: There is no one "cold" tire pressure.

 

[TT97]

Mine were at 40 PSI at delivery, but the door says 45 PSI so I raised it to 45 for the better efficiency.

When a mobile repair tech came out to fix something unrelated, he asked what my tire pressure was, and he was going to lower it to 42 PSI (or maybe he said 40... I can't remember) before I objected. He said most people "like it better" with lower pressure for a softer ride. But I value the reduced rolling resistance more.

I keep my car at 45 psi as I prefer the firmer ride; when I brought it to the SC, they lowered it to 42 psi.

 

[chracatoa]

I just got my AWD non-P today with 19" sports wheels. What is the lowest I can go? Ride feels a bit stiff.

 

[TT97]

I just got my AWD non-P today with 19" sports wheels. What is the lowest I can go? Ride feels a bit stiff.

Elon suggested 39 psi...

Twitter

 

[Big1matt]

is 39 psi for 18s or 19s? or both?

 

[chracatoa]

is 39 psi for 18s or 19s? or both?

Good question. Does anyone know?

 

[TT97]

is 39 psi for 18s or 19s? or both?

Elon was talking in general, I think it could be for either.

All three sizes state 42 psi for recommended tire pressure and initially both 18" and 19" had 45 psi as recommended. Tesla always kept recommended tire pressure consistent through the sizes so assume 39 psi would apply to either size.